By Judy Thorburn This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - Las Vegas Round The Clock Owner/Editor in Chief/writer - The Flick ChicksDirector of Communications - Nevada Film Alliancehttp://www.theflickchicks.com

Movie Stars and Filmmakers Honored at 2014 CinemaCon

Movie industry executives and distributors, theatre owners and managers, and equipment and concessions manufacturers came together for CinemaCon 2014, the official convention of NATO (National Association of Theatre Owners), which took place Monday, March 24 through Thursday, March 27 at Caesars Palace.

Along with sneak peak presentations of major studios’ upcoming slate for 2014 and beyond, a slew of A list movie stars were on hand to promote their films and several actors and filmmakers were honored with awards for their achievement in film during the 2014 CinemaCon Big Screen Achievement Awards ceremony in the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace on Thursday, March 27th. Cohosts for the evening’s event were Billy Bush and Kit Hoover of Access Hollywood.

Kit Hoover and Billy BushPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

The event began by recognizing the six finalists from the 2014 Sprite Films competition that were selected from students from all over the country to create and helm a short film from script-to-screen. New to the program in 2014 was Sprite Films ambassador and mentor, actor Michael B. Jordan, who met the students and offered advice based on his first-hand experience working in Hollywood.

The major awards kicked off with the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to director Ivan Reitman. Reitman is best known for classics such as “Animal House”, “Stripes”, “Ghostbusters”, “Dave”, “Private Parts”, “I Love You Man” and “Up In The Air” among many others. His new film “Draft Day” starring Kevin Costner, was given a special advance screening at this year’s CinemaCon.

Female Star of Tomorrow: Shailene Woodley

Shailene WoodleyPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Ms. Woodley was honored for her performance in “The Descendants” opposite George Clooney, and stars in the just released “Divergent”. She will be seen starring in the upcoming release of 20th Century Fox’s “The Fault In Our Stars”.

Male Star of Tomorrow: Chadwick Boseman

Chadwick BosemanPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Boseman won critical acclaim for his performance as Jackie Robinson in last year's “42”. He has upcoming roles in “Draft Day” with Kevin Costner, as singer James Brown in “Get On Up” and as Thoth, the god of wisdom in “Gods Of Egypt”.

CinemaCon Vanguard Award: Andy Serkis

Andy SerkisPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Serkis was honored for his pioneering work in the art of motion capture performance. Best known for creating such memorable characters as “King Kong”, as Gollum in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” series, and Caesar in the “Planet of the Apes” franchise “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and the upcoming “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes”, when it comes to 'performance capture' he has no equal and has pioneered an art form that has changed the world of acting. In October 2012, Serkis announced the acquisition of two projects that will be produced by his London based performance capture studio, The Imaginarium: “The Bone Season,” and “Animal Farm,” which Serkis will direct.

Rising Stars of 2014: Jack Reynor & Nicola Peltz

Jack Reynor and Nicola PeltzPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Reynor was honored for his outstanding work in “What Richard Did” and opposite Vince Vaughn in “Delivery Man”. He can be seen in this summer’s “Transformers: Age of Extinction”, and in the upcoming “Glassland” and “Macbeth”.

Ms. Peltz made her big screen debut opposite Danny DeVito, Matthew Broderick and Kristen Chenowith in the 2006 film “Deck the Halls”. She went on to star in “The Last Airbender” and “Eye of the Hurricane”. Peltz can be seen in the upcoming “Transformers: Age of Extinction”.

Comedy Star of the Year: Leslie Mann

Leslie MannPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Leslie Mann (wife of producer/director Judd Apetow) is known for her work in “This is 40”, “Knocked Up” with co-star and CinemaCon honoree Seth Rogen, “The Cable Guy”, “The Change Up”, “The Bling Ring”, “I Love You Phillip Morris”, “17 Again”, “Big Daddy”, “Little Birds”, “George of the Jungle”, “Timecode”, “Drillbit Taylor”, “Funny People and “The 40 Year Old Virgin”. She can be heard in the recent “Mr. Peabody & Sherman”, “Paranorman” and seen in the upcoming Fox release of “The Other Woman” with co-stars Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton.

Breakthrough Performer of the Year: Chris Pratt

Chris PrattPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Pratt (married to actress Ana Faris) was honored for his work in “The Lego Movie”, “Delivery Man”, “Five Year Engagement”, “Moneyball”,, “Her” and “Zero Dark Thirty”. later this year he can be seen as Peter Quill in the upcoming Marvel release of “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

Comedy Filmmakers of the Year: Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg

Seth Rogen and Evan GoldbergPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

As writers, producers and directors, long time friends, Rogen and & Goldman were recognized for their work on “Superbad”, “Pineapple Express”, “The Guilt Trip”, and “The Green Hornet” and last year’s “This is the End”. Their latest collaborative efforts, screened at this year’s CinemaCon, is the upcoming Universal Picture’s comedy “Neighbors” starring Seth Rogen along with Rose Byrne and Zac Efron.

Cinema Icon Award: Kevin Costner

Kevin CostnerPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Kevin Costner was honored for his roles in front of, and behind the camera, with such iconic films as “Dances with Wolves”, “The Untouchables”, “Bull Durham”, “Field of Dreams”, “Open Range”, “Man of Steel”, “No Way Out”, “The Postman, “Tin Cup”, “McFarland”, “Black & White”, “JFK”, “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves”, “The Bodyguard” and can be seen starring in the upcoming “Draft Day” along with CinemaCon honoree Chadwick Boseman.

Female Star of the Year: Drew Barrymore

Barrymore (Flower Films) made her acting debut in the movie “Altered States” but caught the attention of movie going audiences as the adorable 7 year old pig-tailed child in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial”. She has gone on to star in such notable films as “Irreconcilable Difference”, “Cat’s Eye”, “Far From Home”, “Boys on the side”, “Scream”, “The Wedding Singer”, “Home Fries”, “Never Been Kissed”, “Charlie’s Angels”, “Riding in Cars with Boys”, “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind”, “50 First Dates”, “He’s Just Not That Into You”, “Everybody’s Fine” and “Going the Distance”. She has lent her voice to “Beverly Hills Chihuahua” and “Curious George” and has gone on to direct “Whip It!” and “Our Deal”. She can be seen in the upcoming comedy “Blended” with co star and CinemaCon honoree Adam Sandler.

Drew Barrymore and Adam SandlerPhoto credit: Stephen Thorburn

Lionsgate’s “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” received the Fandango Fan Choice for Favorite Movie of 2013, voted by the users of Fandango.com.

The Australian Bee Gees Show Celebrated 1,000th Performance

THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW celebrated its 1,000th performance in Las Vegas on Thursday, March 20 with a pre-show event to celebrate the production’s accomplishments, including new songs, arrangements, video projections and costumes. Local celebrities and notables in attendance included President and COO of Excalibur Hotel & Casino Renee West, Chris Phillips (Zowie Bowie), comedian Jeff Civillico, all-girl rock band Doll Face, as well as cast members from Thunder From Down Under, FANTASY, Tournament of Kings and JABBAWOCKEEZ.

THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW channels Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb with their spot-on vocals, striking visual resemblance and captivating stage presence. The group has performed in over 40 countries and in front of more than 1 million people. The show has been in residency at The Excalibur since February 2011.

“We are very proud of this show, and we are excited for the audience to see the new elements that have been added.” said Adam Steck, founder and CEO of SPI Entertainment, Inc. “The 1,000 show milestone is a tribute to the quality of the performers on stage as well as a testament to the timeless music of the Bee Gees.”

Thunder from Down Under with the Austrailian Bee GeesPhoto credit: Patrick Walthers

THE AUSTRALIAN BEE GEES SHOW performs Saturday through Thursday nights at 7 p.m. in the Thunder From Down Under Showroom at Excalibur Hotel & Casino. Ticket prices range from $44.95 to $59.95 plus taxes and fees.

The 80-minute comedic musical is centered around Linda, still reeling from her divorce, as her friends turn her despair into a weekend of hilarity. Hailed as a blend of “Sex and the City with Dr. Phil, Oprah and SNL,” the show uses laughs, songs and the occasional shock factor to explore the realities of divorce, long term relationships and moving on.

“A version of this production has played in cities across the country to great success but I always knew that it was meant for Las Vegas,” said Mark Schwartz lead producer, “My team and I couldn’t be happier to be in our new home inside Windows Showroom and we can’t wait to introduce the show to a new audience.”

“You don’t have to have gone through a divorce to enjoy this show,” said Dr. Amy Botwinick co-author and producer, “The storyline is incredibly funny, heartfelt and at times a little risqué but most importantly everyone in the audience can relate.”

Ticket prices for Divorce Party Las Vegas are $49/$65 plus taxes and fees. Platinum VIP tickets are offered for guests looking to enhance their experience for $80 and include a round of specialty drinks, premier seating and a meet & greet with the cast. Performances are Saturday – Thursday at 8 p.m.

Read Jacqueline Monahan's review of Divorce Party Las Vegas in this week's edition of her “About the Town” column.

Master Chefs of France Come Together for Prestigous Culinary Celebration at the Venetian and the Palazzo

From March 5-10, the 59th General Assembly of French Master Chefs – “Maitres Cuisiners de France”, a six-day event, was held at the celebrated culinary venue of the Las Vegas Strip, The Venetian and The Palazzo, home to more James Beard Award-winning chefs than any other destination. It was the first time the meeting was held in the United States since the MCF’s inception.“The Venetian Las Vegas raised the bar for Maîtres Cuisiniers de France gatherings. This by far was the congress of the century,” said Executive Chef of The Venetian and The Palazzo, Olivier Dubreuil.

Oliver Dubreuil, Joel Robuchon and and Steve BenjaminPhoto courtesy of the Venetian/Palazzo

Dubreuil is also a Master Chef of France. It was through his hard work and dedication to the organization that his invitation to bring the meetings to the United States was accepted.

“We could not be more grateful for the opportunity to host the world’s most prestigious union of French culinary professionals as they come together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the American and Canadian delegations and the U.S. Chapter of “l’Academie Culinaire De France” (ACF),” said John Caparella, president and chief operating officer of The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo.

Nearly 150 of these Master Chefs stayed at The Venetian Las Vegas where the worldwide meetings were held.

An exclusive induction ceremony was held on Friday, March 7, 2014, adding 21 chefs to the prestigious assembly of Master Chefs.

The “l’Academie Culinaire de France” also hosted a special dinner electing the woman of the year, Las Vegas Restaurateur Elizabeth Blau, and rewarded Master Pastry Chef, Andre Renard with the “Fauteuil de l’ Academie” for lifetime achievement.

On Saturday, March 8, twelve “Maitres Cuisiners” and twelve wineries had a great time showcasing their culinary specialties and techniques from different regions of France in an exciting public event known as the Master Tour de France.

Accompanying prestigious culinary talent from around the world, five celebrated Las Vegas chefs also featured their signature dishes in this special culinary tasting, including Olivier Dubreuil of The Venetian and The Palazzo, Claude Le Tohic of Joel Robuchon, Benjamin of L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, Jean Joho of Eiffel Tower, and David Werly of Mandarin Oriental.

New York - New York Hotel Kicks Off Celtic Feis Celebration With 1,000 Green Balloons March 15

New York-New York’s annual Celtic Feis, a three-day St. Patrick’s Day celebration, kicked off on March 15 with an eco-friendly balloon release and ribbon cutting at the official unveiling of the new outdoor plaza.

The first day of Irish festivities included the property’s water fountain being dyed green to continue the Irish spirit for Celtic Feis. Guests decked out in green and Irish attire gathered on the Brooklyn Bridge to watch live musical performances from bands Patrick Seiban, Sine Ri-Ra, Rattle & Hum, Paula Campanella and Limey Bar Stewards. Throughout the day, guests enjoyed delectable Irish cuisine and libations including Fried Sausages, Shepherd’s Pie, Corned Beef Sandwiches, Guinness and other specialty libations at Nine Fine Irishmen.

Prior to the kick-off of Celtic Feis, the resort held a ceremonial green ribbon cutting followed by the release of 1,000 green eco-friendly balloons to unveil the new Strip-side developments including new retail venues Swatch, I Love NYNY, Stupidiotic and a 24-hour Starbucks.

Ribbon cuttingPhoto Credit: Cashman Photos

Balloon releasePhoto Credit: Cashman Photos

Additional recent and upcoming “happenings” in and around Las Vegas includes:

MONTECORE, the white tiger who appeared in thousands of performances with Siegfried & Roy during the duo's record-setting run at The Mirage, passed away after a short illness on March 19. He was 17.

"The world has lost one of its most majestic creatures and I have lost a brother," said Roy. "I will forever believe it was his concern for my safety and well-being that caused him to act as he did on that night long ago. We spent many hours together and he never failed to bring me great joy and wonderment. It was my great honor to be beside him at the end. He is now playing with his siblings in White Tiger heaven."

Roy added: "His contribution to the avalanche of awareness for conservation and preservation has made him unforgettable. His spirit will live forever with Siegfried & Roy and his multitude of fans."

The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center performed another first for the region on March 21, with the IMPLANTATION OF NEVADA'S FIRST MEDTRONIC REVEAL LINQ INSERTABLE CARDIAC MONITOR. Dr. Arjun Gururaj, Interventional Cardiologist and Medical Director of the Electrophysiology Program at Sunrise Hospital, performed the implantation. This device is available for both adult and pediatric patients. Smaller than a house key, the cardiac monitor is inserted in the upper chest area, and continuously records heart rhythms. With the device, physicians can help patients find answers to unexplained heart-related problems without interrupting the patient’s lifestyle. This device allows physicians to wirelessly monitor a patient’s heart for up to three years.

The Heart Center at Sunrise Hospital cares for more hearts than any other hospital in Nevada. As Nevada’s first Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Program and the only pediatric open heart surgery program in the state, Sunrise is leading the way in providing advanced cardiac care to Southern Nevada and the surrounding region.

After a nationwide search, full casting has been announced for the highly anticipated Las Vegas production of MAMMA MIA!, which begins performances at the new Tropicana resort in Las Vegas May 8. The talented cast features MAMMA MIA! alumni, including all three Dynamos as well as several Las Vegas locals who will join the company.

JEFFREY R. GORDON, PRESIDENT & CEO OF NEVADA CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION has been named by the Southern Highlands Charitable Foundation as one of the 2014 GOVERNOR'S PHILANTHROPISTS OF THE YEAR. Gordon will receive this prestigious award presented by Governor Brian Sandoval at The Annual Governor’s Black-Tie Gala on Thursday, April 3, at Southern Highlands Golf Club.

Meeting popular demand, hip hop artist SCHOOLBOY Q WITH FELLOW TOP DAWG ARTIST ISAIAH RASHAD, VINCE STAPLES AND HIP HOP DUO AUDIO PUSH, has added an 11:30 p.m. show on Friday, April 4, at Hard Rock Live Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 day of show.

The 6th ANNUAL WALK WITH ME EVENT presented by EASTER SEALS NEVADA to benefit Nevada residents living with disabilities returns on Saturday, April 19 to W. Wayne Bunker Family Park, located at Alexander Rd. and Tenaya Way and with it, the Annual Easter Carnival celebrations beginning at 10 a.m. For only $10, kids can play unlimited carnival games in the mid-way, join the Easter egg hunts, get a picture with the Easter Bunny and much more! Attendees can opt for the $5 for five tickets option as well, but all the funds collected goes directly to Easter Seals Nevada. The Easter Carnival also includes live entertainment from School of Rock, concessions, face painting and an Easter Bunny costume contest (0 – 6 yr. and 6 yr. – 10 yr.).

Families, individuals, friends and businesses are encouraged to arrive 9 a.m. and join in Walk With Me, the two-mile walk to raise awareness and funds for the 8,000 Nevada residents living with disabilities that Easter Seals Nevada assist each year. All of the funds raised stay in Nevada and its residents. For additional information, registration and donations, please visit www.walkwithme.org/lasvegas.

Jeffrey Hatcher’s dramedy, “COMPLEAT FEMALE STAGE BEAUTY,” is being presented by the Department of Fine Arts at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) on April 18, 19, 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and April 20 and 27 at 2 p.m. Performances are in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre on the Cheyenne campus located at 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. Admission is $12 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. For reservations, call 651-LIVE (5483) or visit www.csn.edu/pac. Legendary R&B group THE MANHATTANS will bring their soulful sounds to the Suncoast Showroom April 19 and 20. Showtime each evening is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $15.95, plus tax and fees. Singer BOBBY RYDELL, one of the top recording artist of the early 1960's, performs his rock n roll hits at the Suncoast Showroom April 25, 26 and 27. Showtime each evening is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available from $15.95, plus tax and fees

Celebrity Sightings:

Saturday afternoon, March 29...

Kicking off the weekend, renowned Dutch DJ duo Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano made their daylife debuts at Wet Republic at MGM Grand where they took over the pool deck with their electric energy. Adding to the excitement, the hot spot helped Sunnery celebrate his birthday with a three-tiered cake topped with the iconic WET REPUBLIC water droplet.

Reality TV star Scheana Marie from Bravo TV’s “Vanderpump Rules” was spotted at the Strip’s “Best Adult Show” ABSINTHE at Caesars Palace.Following, she gracefully accepted The Gazillionaire’s desire to immortalize her experience and agreed to snap a photo with him and Penny Pibbets in the Spiegeltent.

Model Crystal Hefner performed an exclusive DJ set at the Hard Rock Hotel's poolside tropical oasis, Paradise Beach. Notable partygoers included the cast of “Vanderpump Rules” and pin up model Sabina Kelley. Kelley later joined tattoo artist Ivano Natale for the launch of Ink Saturdays at The Ainsworth, a rock infused and tattoo based night.

World Series of Fighting 9 took place at The Joint where MMA fighters Randy Couture, Ryan Couture, Frank Trigg, Mike Pyle, Benson Henderson, Martin Kampmann, Diaz as well as retired professional baseball player Jose Canseco and professional football player Stevenson Sylvester were seen in the audience.

Taryn Manning, most recently known for her role in the Netflix TV series “Orange is the New Black,” hosted at Body English Nightclub inside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas on. The actress was joined by friends Brittany Brower and Jeanine Heller.

We're multilingual!

We, at Las Vegas Round the Clock, are deeply saddened by the senseless act of violence that occurred in our city on Sunday evening, October 1 and send our deepest condolences, healing prayers and love to the victims, their families, and all those affected by the tragedy.